Agape Freedom Sports LLC

“Coal Region to Greencastle-Antrim: How Mark DeCarli’s Roots Shaped a Title Run”

By: Jeric Yurkanin | Agape Freedom Sports | 6/12/25

There’s an old saying: “Leaders are born, not made.” But perhaps the opposite is more true. Leadership is often a product of the people and culture that shape you—molded not just by natural talent, but by the examples set before you.

Take Valley View graduate and standout athlete Mark DeCarli—now the current Greencastle-Antrim softball head coach in District 5 in the south-central Pennsylvania area. He became the head coach in 2013 and remained since then.

His leadership journey didn’t begin in a huddle or on the court—it began at home, in a household where influence and integrity were modeled daily. His father, Anthony DeCarli, wasn’t just a presence in the Valley View community; he was a pillar. A longtime principal at the high school, Anthony’s steady leadership left a lasting impression on students, faculty, and of course, his son.

In 1988, Anthony DeCarli was elected president of the Lackawanna Interscholastic Athletic Association—a testament to the respect he commanded across Northeastern Pennsylvania. He was a leader’s leader, trusted to guide one of the region’s most important athletic bodies.

It’s no surprise, then, that Mark grew up immersed in that environment of purpose and service. The impact of his father’s leadership wasn’t just seen—it was felt. Through discipline, example, and quiet strength, Mark learned what it meant to lead long before he ever wore a jersey or held a clipboard.

It wasn’t surprising that he would follow a similar path as his father. It wasn’t just that which made him who he is today or taught him how to become an impactful leader—it was having the right people in his life.

He first got a taste of coaching in his early 20s, in the 1990s, where he learned some of the most important qualities in the coaching field.

“I credit Joe Ferguson for that opportunity. It taught me the importance of preparation, accountability, and attention to detail at a higher level. Most importantly, I learned that coaches who build relationships and truly care about their players make the biggest difference. That’s the kind of coach I strive to be,” said Mark DeCarli.

He continued, “There will be failure in softball and life. It is how you deal with failure. If you let failure defeat you, then you can’t move forward. Learn from failure, turn it into positivity, and then you can accomplish success and not look back asking, ‘What if?’”

“Coaching is about much more than wins and losses—it’s about building relationships, teaching life lessons, and helping young people grow. Be patient, stay humble, and never stop learning. Focus on communication, consistency, and setting a good example. And most importantly, remember why you started: to make a difference.”

Mark’s coaching roots go back to high school, where he had some great leaders in his life. He would watch them closely and observe every word and the way they talked to their student-athletes. His parents—and longtime Valley View head football coach Frank Pazzaglia, who surpassed the 300-win mark in his career—really helped shape Mark into the coach he is today.

“They always encouraged me to go after my dreams. Also, Coach Frank Pazzaglia—even though I coach softball—playing football for him taught me a lot of life lessons and what true competitive nature is all about,” said Mark.

Today, Mark DeCarli stands not just as a former athlete, but as a mentor to young people. His leadership style is rooted in legacy, in culture, and in something more powerful than a title: impact.

On Friday, Mark’s team will play in the Pennsylvania 5A State Softball Championship against Penn-Trafford at 4 p.m. This is the first time since 2009 that Greencastle-Antrim will play in the state championship. In 2009, they were guided by a different head coach.

This story is not uncommon. Time and time again, whether in coaching or community service, we see the influence of leaders passed on to the next generation. Fathers, mothers, mentors—they plant seeds. Sometimes those seeds bloom into future principals, educators, or coaches. Other times, they blossom into leaders in their own right, uniquely equipped to serve because they were once served.

But Mark’s deep roots started at Valley View—the yellow, the blue, and the white. The Cougar community helped shape Mark into the type of coach and person he is today.

“Having a great support system—family and friends—I know I can always reach out to someone back home if needed. It was just a close community. I do miss home, but at the time, I had to do what I felt was best for me and my family,” said DeCarli.

Mark still often thinks about those roots and misses the home-cooked meals and restaurants in the Valley—that’s the nickname for the Jessup, Archbald, and Peckville area. He misses pizza joints like Andy’s Pizza, which has been around since the 1950s.

“I miss my family—the big gatherings—my friends, homemade pasta, the meats, and the pizza!”

But to Mark, he will be forever thankful for once being part of the Valley View community and for the coaching lessons he learned from his mentors, which he now uses every day to help his softball players succeed—both academically and as student-athletes.

As Valley View’s softball team also plays in the state championship this year, it’s a special time for both Mark’s Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils and his hometown Valley View Cougars.

“I always follow Valley View sports every season. To see the Valley View softball team in the state finals puts a smile on my face. Makes me proud to be a Valley View alum. You can take the kid out of the coal region, but you can never take the coal region out of the kid.”

Mark never forgot where he started—his roots, and the coal region in Northeastern Pennsylvania.